India, US Sign Key Defence Agreements During Rajnath Singh's Visit

In a move to bolster defence ties, India and the United States have signed a major agreement to provide mutual priority support for goods and services crucial for national defence. This "Security of Supply Arrangement" (SOSA) will help both nations acquire the industrial resources they need to manage unexpected supply chain disruptions and meet critical national security requirements.

On the first day of his official visit to Washington, India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, oversaw the signing of the SOSA and a Memorandum of Agreement for the Assignment of Liaison Officers. Senior defence officials from both sides signed the agreements, which aim to deepen cooperation in defence technology, trade and industrial collaboration.

India is the 18th country to join the US in this arrangement, following other major defence partners such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. Vic Ramdass, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Industrial Base Policy, emphasised that the arrangement marks a pivotal moment in the US-India defence relationship, particularly under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Ramdass expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming DTTI meeting, which will focus on expanding co-development, co-production and co-sustainment initiatives between the two countries defence sectors. Under the SOSA, India and the US commit to prioritize each other’s defence-related procurement requests, ensuring smoother collaboration in times of peacetime, emergencies and conflicts.

“The next step will be the signing of the Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement (RDP) which will be legally binding,” said Pushan Das, Director of  Aerospace and Defence.

During his visit, Singh also addressed the Indian diaspora, praising their contributions to the US economy and society. He highlighted the growing partnership between India and the US, calling the two countries "natural allies" and noting that India's stature on the global stage has significantly risen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

In a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, the two leaders discussed defence cooperation, regional security and industrial collaboration. Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the SOSA and highlighted the progress made in implementing the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap. They also welcomed the deployment of Indian liaison officers to US commands, further strengthening military cooperation.

The two leaders also commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing the Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries. They appreciated INDUS-X establishing robust networks across start-ups, industry, academia, and governments, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of both sides.

Singh’s visit comes at a time of growing momentum in India-US relations. It is expected to deepen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between the two countries, particularly in the defence sector.

Sangeet Kumar Sanu

BW Reporters Sangeet Kumar Sanu as a Correspondent reports on Defence, Space and Foreign Affairs for BW since 2022.